NFL, Religious Liberty, Mozart & Men

The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs played out over the weekend with some exciting games.  The New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens kicked off the early game on Saturday.  The Ravens twice jumped out to 14 point leads before eventually falling to the Patriots 35-31.  The late game had the Seattle Seahawks hosting the Carolina Panthers in a game the Seahawks won easily 30-17.  This sets the venues at New England and Seattle for next week's AFC and NFC Championship games as both the Patriots and Seahawks were their respective conference's Number 1 Seed. 

In the late game on Sunday, Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos and Peyton Manning.  The Colts then proceeded to buck the weekend trend of the home team prevailing by galloping out to a 24-13 win in the battle of the equine mascots.  Sadly, the Colts were the only visiting team to win over the weekend.  Which of course means that My Dallas Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field 26-21.  Like their game against the Detroit Lions, this game had a controversial officials ruling late in the game that changed the momentum of the game at the least and the final outcome at most.  But to mix metaphors, I am not going to cry over spilled milk as the Cowboys lived by the Sword last week and Died by the same Sword this week.  It was either some instant karma, divine retribution or backlash revenge but it is now part of NFL lore and history.  That leaves me feeling rather cold for the rest of the playoffs.  I am not a fan of the Seahawks or Packers and I am definitely not a member to the Tom Brady fan club.  So that only leaves me the Colts to root for as I have no real antipathy towards them, but no reason to get excited either.  Such is life in the NFL.  On to next season....

There has been a lot of furor lately in the news over the latest buzz word or catch phrase of the Opponents of Equality, "religious liberty", as the mask for their blatant homophobic discriminatory beliefs and practices.  Mostly stemming from the battle for Marriage Equality, "religious liberty" is merely the re-branding of the worn and weary moralistic religious justification used to discriminate against any number of minorities in the past.  Black folks, Jews, Muslims, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Women, and Gay folks.  A story in the December 15 issue of the New York Times raised the specter of "religious liberty" while relating the story of the Colorado Baker who refused to do a wedding cake for a same sex couple.  The Times again addressed the issue over the weekend with two different articles.  The first article was about the "religious liberty" debate being held in Atlanta regarding the Mayor firing the Fire Chief for his homophobic actions.  I am all for Freedom of Religion, however I am not in favor of using "religious liberty" as a tool to denigrate any minority much less my own.  Freedom of Religion is also Freedom from Religion which means you can't force your beliefs on me or vice versa nor can such be legislated no matter how hard you try. 

One other article addressed the "religious liberty" argument, this time from the LGBT POV by columnist Frank Bruni in an OpEd titled Your God and My Dignity. Bruni points out the "religious liberty" argument is an "illustration of religion’s favored status in a country that’s still working out this separation-of-church-and-state business and hasn’t yet gotten it quite right."  Bruni also states "Equality is increasingly being enshrined into law, and one response from those opposed to it is that the law shouldn’t apply to them.  Why? Because it contradicts their religious beliefs, which they use as a fig leaf for intolerance."  He goes on to discuss the subject before stating the obvious thing most of the Opponents of Equality espousing the "religious liberty" masquerade miss:  "And I support the right of people to believe what they do and say what they wish — in their pews, homes and hearts.  But outside of those places? You must put up with me, just as I put up with you."  Oh, Snap....

You Monday with Mozart features the Master at his most Melodic.  Today's play list is comprised of 3 Piano Sonatas, KV 332, 375, 457, with a marvelous performance recorded live in an 1990 intimate concert setting in Munich by Friedrich Gulda.  You may enjoy another of Mozart's Merry Melodies with his Piano Sonata KV 331 with a performance by Wilhelm Kempff over on my tumblr. 

Now it is time for this week's celebration of our mutual underwear fetish with a fresh edition of Monday's Undies.  This collection is sizzlin', sexy and on display below the play list.  Be sure to check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr who is Chiseled to Perfection!  Thanks for starting your week with a visit here, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!